Gluck – solving a mystery

I watched a fascinating BBC4 documentary the other night, about the early 20th century artist Gluck – who was something of a trailblazer in how she chose to live her life. The programme was well done, with a nice lack of fuss & sensationalism from the Beeb. An added bonus was that it solved the mystery of this stunning Virago book cover for Radclyffe Hall’s The Well of Loneliness, which I remember from my time at uni.

It caught my eye in book stores and on friends’ shelves but I never knew who the artist was before. Now I know it’s a self portrait of Gluck. Apparently the second figure (at the back) was long thought to be her alter-ego, but was actually her lover.